Utah Valley overwhelmed in 93-40 loss to No. 8 Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart (33) smiles as he sits on the bench with Brian Williams (4) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Utah Valley in Stillwater, Okla., Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
(The Associated Press)

Oklahoma State's Markel Brown dunks against Utah Valley in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stillwater, Okla., Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
(The Associated Press)

Oklahoma State wing Markel Brown shoots in front of Utah Valley guard Hayes Garrity in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stillwater, Okla., Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
(The Associated Press)

Less than 24 hours later after getting win No. 2 over North Carolina A&T, the Wolverines took their worst loss since joining Division I, falling 93-40 to No. 8 Oklahoma State.

Utah Valley scored 15 points in the second half and trailed 25-5 9 minutes into the game.

The Wolverines attempted 68 free throws and turned the ball over 22 times in their first two games combined this season. On Tuesday, they attempted nine free throws and committed 23 turnovers. Oklahoma State recorded 18 steals.

It was a struggle all game on both ends of the court for the visitors. Senior guard Holton Hunsaker, averaging a team-high 18 points per game heading into Tuesday, did not score until 3:26 remained in the game. The Wolverines hit 14 of 44 from the field.

"I wish we could have been a little bit stiffer competition, but that is the nature of the beast," said 12th-year head coach Dick Hunsaker. "It is a credit to (OSU) for the way they jumped on his. It is obviously difficult because Oklahoma State is a very good team. To fall behind that quickly, against a team like that, it's tough to come back.

"We play multiple athletic teams in our non-conference, but (OSU) is a special team in all facets of the game."

Keawe Enos and Hayes Garrity each finished with eight points for Utah Valley.

Oklahoma State (2-0) had made 14 of 33 from 3-point range, getting four each from Phil Forte and Big 12 preseason Player of the Year Marcus Smart. The 3-point total was one shy of a school record.

Freshman Stevie Clark, who had six assists, hit 3 of 4 from behind the 3-point line. Markel Brown added two 3-pointers.

"This was just one of those nights," said Forte, who, despite not starting, has led the team in scoring in both games this season. "We had been shooting a lot in practice. We were hitting on all cylinders tonight and we're really hard to stop. We're moving the ball really well, getting in the lane, pitching out to different guys who can knock down shots. When we're doing that it makes the game a lot easier."

"It's just one of those nights," Smart added. "We had been shooting the ball well in practice. We've been having guys dedicated coming in and out at countless hours of the night, coming back in the morning doing some things and in practice continuing to work. So we knew it would pay off and it was just one of those nights."

Smart had a school-record nine steals and the Cowboys finished with 18.

Without a doubt, sixth-year head coach Travis Ford likes what he has seen through two games in 2013-14. All told, Ford saw six players score in double figures led by Forte's 19. Clark scored 16, Smart added 14, Le'Bryan Nash totaled 11, and Brian Williams and Brown each finished with 10. Smart had five rebounds, and four assists.

"I'm very happy with the start we had," said Ford, whose team plays Friday against Arkansas Pine Bluff. "I don't think we could have gotten off to a better start than we did.

"I thought the first 15 minutes of the first half set the tone. We got off to a big lead. We didn't finish the half the way that I wanted and the last 5 minutes weren't great defensively. Everybody got an opportunity to play. Everybody came out of the gates and played very hard and aggressive."